Therapeutic tables



LE ROY GILBERT THERAPEUTIC TABLES oct. 21., 195s 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1955 IEMHU IN1/swan 77 HTTORNEYS www Oct. 21, 1958 LE ROY GILBERT 2,856,916

THERAPEUTIC TABLES Filed June 28, 1955 i s sheets-sheet 2 HTTORNEKS Oct. 21, 1958 LE ROY GILBERT THERAPEUTIC TABLES 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 28, 1955 GNN NN mv m68. ao. Nm

ATTORNEYS nited- States This invention relates to improvements in oscillating therapeutic tables and more particularly to a body stimulating and massaging table -whose stroke can be very i atnt simply adjusted to suit the person on the table and obtain the desired effect.

Therapeutic stretching and massaging tables of the type to which I refer have in the past been exceedingly complex in construction and consequently the tables have enjoyed only a limited use because they have been so expensive. Actually, such tables not only promote the reduction of fatty tissues by gentle and soothing massage, but also apply tensions and pressures alternately to different portions of the body to thus stimulate the circulation of the blood and lympathtic fluids. Apparatus of this type has not however to my knowledge, been used to any extent even by physicians in the larger hospitals or physical training institutions, and obviously, many who could benefit considerably through a supervised use of `such a table have been denied it because -the table has been so costly to manufacture.

One of the prime objects of my invention is to design a table of variable stroke which is comparatively simple in construction and can be relatively inexpensively manufactured.

A further object of `the invention is to provide a table I which is highly reliable and efficient in operation, and whose stroke can be very readily manually adjusted without removing the housing covering the driving mechamsm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reciprocatory table which includes, driving linkage with a relatively movable floating connection which produces an extremely smooth reciprocating motion.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a therapeutic table which can be effectively used in the treatment of muscular and spinal diseases and to relieve muscular cramps, congestions, and fatigues.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention .consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that equivalent changes may be made in the various elements which comprise the invention without departing from the spiritthereof or the scope of the appended claims.

Broadly, the table of the instant invention comprises a frame supporting a reciprocating table on which the patient lies, the head or feet of the patient being secured to the frame while the table moves underneath the patient and massages and stretches various portions of his body. Since the effect produced is dependent in large part on the length of the tables stroke which should be gauged to the weight and size ofthe patient as well as to the particular treatment to be effected, the instant table incorporates a vtable whose stroke can be very simply adjusted.

ln'the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of my novel and improved tablegthe side wall of the housing being broken away to reveal the mechanism for driving the same, and

V2,856,916 Patented Oct, 21, 1958 ICC Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 2 with the patient secured however, to the head end of the frame.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, a letter F generally indicates the main frame of my machine which comprises standards 10 connected by longitudinal members 11 and transverse members 12. The various members may comprise individual pipe sections which are threaded into joints or couplings 13 as shown, and removable sidewalls 14 and end walls 15 are provided to house the frame and'enclose the moving parts which will bedescribed.

Spanning the lower longitudinal members 11 at both the front and rear ofthe main frame F are plates 16 supporting transversely spaced apart bearings 16a in which transverse members 17 are journaled, and it will be seen that the members 17 form part of link frames generally designated L which support a table T for reciprocatory movement. The link frames L include also side vertical members y18 and upper members 19 which are pivotally received in bearings 20 provided on. plate members 21 which connect longitudinal table assembly pipe sections 22. These latter sections support a box frame 23 on which a pad 23a is secured so that the patient may rest in supine position on the table T in comfort.

. Mounted on transverse angle braces-24 which are secured to the lower members 11, is a platform 25 which supports a motor 26 and speed reducer 27. The output shaftl 28 of the reducer has a crank arm 29 fixed thereon to which is pivotally connected as at 30 a connecting bar ymember or pitman 31. On the front end of the bar k31 is a bearing 32 for a pin 33 which extends laterally from an arm 34. The arm 34 is non-rotatably fixed to-a shaft 35 which is journaled in bearings 36 and is adapted to oscillate or rock the shaft 35 in accordance with the throw of the crank and reciprocatory` movement of the bar 31. Side angular brace members 37 bolted to the front angle 24 and an angle 38 which is secured between two of the vertical posts 10, support the bearings 36.

Reciprocatory motion is imparted to the table T through a variable floating link arrangement which can be very readily adjusted to increase or decrease the stroke of the table in accordance with the treatment desired and which produces an extremely smooth stroke. Fixed on the shaft 35 and oscillating therewith, is a slide housing 39 which accommodates a slide bar 40, the elements 39 and 40 constituting a telescoping link assembly. The upper end of member 40 is pivotally connected as at 41 to the bifurcated end 42a of a link 42 which is pivotally connected to the tableT at'43 rearwardly of center. As

the shaft 35 is moved through a portion of a revolution,

clearly the link 42 will be moved forwardly (see its broken line position in Fig. 1) even though the slide 40 is freely received in the housing 39, `to impart forward otally connected as at 45 to the link `42 intermediate its ends and is operable to raise or lower the link 42 about its pivot 43 and to thus adjust the position of the slide 40 in its housing 39. The lower end of the link 44 is pivotally connected as at 44a to a lever 46 which extends rigidly from anadjusting shaft;` 47 which is supported in a, bearing 48 on platform 25. The shaft 47 extends through the one side wall 14 of the frame` housing (see Fig. and has an adjusting lever arm 48 fixed on the end thereof as shown.

To retain the adjusting lever 4S in adjusted position, a pin 49 (see Fig. 3) having an elongated slot 50 to pass a bolt 51 with an enlarged head which is threaded into the lever 48, is slidably supported in a bracket 52 extending from the side Wall of the frame housing. Springs 53a and 53b on the pin between the head 49a thereof and the bracket S2, and between the bracket and a nut 54 threaded on the pin 49 respectively cushion the oscillation of the lever 48 and through the connecting linkage cushion the operation of the table so that vibration tends to be minimized.

The position of the lever 48 may be adjusted by twisting wrench lever 55 which is fixed to the head of the bolt S1 to back off the bolt, which has a head wider than the slot 50, so that the lever 48 can be adjusted relative to the slot 50. Adjustment of the lever 48 to the right or left (in Fig. 3) raises or lowers the link 44 respectively to lengthen or decrease the stroke of the table T as desired.

Mounted on the rear wall 15 of the frame housing is a pair of angular strap frames 56 which are connected by a transverse angle member S7. The frames 56 which are braced by members 58 have vertical handgrip posts 59 and a chin strap 60 is connected therebetween. Braces 61, fixed to the end wall between the frames 56, have angles 62 thereon which support a` padded head rest member 63. Since the braces 61 supporting the head rest 63 are independent of the frames S6, the bolts 64 securing the braces 61 to the end Wall can be loosened and the headrest 63 can be swung downwardly when not in use as shown in Fig. l.

At the foot of the table right angular members 65 braced by elements 66 hingedly (as at 67) support a pair of shoes 68 in which a patients feet may be secured. Switches 69 to energize or deenergize the motor are conveniently placed as shown in Figs. l and 3.

Iclaim:

1. A therapeutic table comprising, a base, a table thereon, means supporting the table for reciprocatory movement on said base, drive means, transmission means connected to said drive means, link means interconnecting said table and said drive transmission means, said link means being pivotally connected to said table and having a ioating connection to said transmission means, and manually adjustable means reacting between said link means and said base for adjusting said link means relative to said transmission means, about said connection of the link means with the table as a pivot, to change the length of stroke of said table.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said manually adjustable means comprises a link connected to said link means intermediate the connection of the link means to the table and to the transmission means, an adjusting shaft connected to said link for raising and lowering the same, and means for locking the adjusting shaft in a given position relative to said link.

3. A reciprocatory table comprising, a base, a table thereon, link means supporting the table for. reciprocatory movement on said base, drive means on said base, a transverse shaft supported under said table, means converting the movement of said drive means to oscillating revolution of said shaft, a slide housing fixed to said shaft, a link pivoted to said table at its one end and having a depending slide on its other end received in said housing, and means connected to said link intermediate its ends for pivoting the link about its connection to the table and thereby moving said slide relative to said housing to yadjust the length of stroke imparted by said shaft.

4. A reciprocatory table comprising, a base, a substantially horizontally disposed table, links pivotally supporting said table above saidbase, motor means on said base, a transversely disposed shaft supported by said base under said table, means connecting said motor means and shaft for converting the continuous rotation of said motor to oscillating revolution of said shaft, a slide housing xed to said shaft to move therewith, the housing having an upper open end, a link depending at an angle relative to said table pivoted to said table at one end, a slide pivoted to the other end of said latter link freely received within said housing, a substantially vertical link depending from said latter link intermediate its ends, a laterally projecting pivotally supported adjusting shaft having an integral arm connected to said vertical link for moving said vertical link up and down and thereby adjusting the position of said slide in said cylinder, and means for holding said adjusting shaft in a set position relative to said vertical link.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 in which said means holding the adjusting shaft comprises, a lever on the outer end of said shaft, a pin having an elongated slot therein slidably supported by said base, disengageable means extending through said slot for clamping the pin to said lever, and spring means cushio-ning the reciprocation of said pin relative to said base.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 in which the means converting the movement of said motor means comprises, a crank arm rigid on the output shaft of the motor means, a pitman thereon, and a link pivotally connected to said pitman and to said transversely disposed shaft to impart the oscillatory movement of said pitman thereto.

7. A therapeutic table comprising a frame member; a patient supporting member; means mounting said patient supporting member on said frame member for reciproeating movement relative thereto; rotary driving means mounted on one of said members; variable length motion transmission means interconnecting said members and being so positioned relatively to said members as to effect relative movement of said members in response to operation of said driving means; means connecting said driving means and said motion transmission means for converting rotary movement of said driving means to reciprocating movement of said patient supporting member; and means reacting between said one of said members and said motion transmission means for varying the position and length of the latter independently of said driving means so as to vary the stroke of reciprocation of said patient supporting member.

8. The construction set forth in claim l wherein said driving means is mounted on said frame member.

9. A construction as set forth in claim l including means on said frame member for restraining movement of a patient against movement with said patient supporting member.

10. A construction as set forth in claim l wherein said variable length motion transmission means includes a telescoping link assembly.

11. A construction as set forth in claim 10 in which said reacting means comprises a rockable device for selectively extending and retracting the links of said telescoping link assembly.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,567,819 Stebbins Dec. 29, 1925 2,570,676 Henderson Oct. 9. 1951 2,700,472 ACarrier Ian. 25, 1955 2,722,929,v lLittle Nov. 8, 1955 

